Alberta's Winter Finale AKA Lockdown The Sequel Day 2.5 :Oops and A Simple Question

 Hi Folks!

Just realized that I missed a day in my quest to have a post here daily during Alberta's winter lockdown.

I was asked a rather obvious question the other day.

Why have I written about a "Second Lockdown" when I haven't written about the first?

The answer to that one is simple my friends.

I  never knew I was living anything historic when I was living it.

On Friday, March 13, I got my hair cut at Abe's in WEM.

On Saturday, March 14, potential travel plans went out the window.

Then in the first week of June, I went to my dentist and hygienist appointment.

So between mid-March and the first week of June, I just kinda hung out.

In my humble abode, 

Which is what I call my room.

Hearing everything from "two weeks" to "by September" .

As guesses for when the pandemic would end. 

I watched the curve flatten.

I watched Alberta be praised for its COVID response.

Restrictions were lifted in the summer.

But as myself and most everyone figured, Canada and the US were hit with a second wave in the fall.

And now here we are in Alberta, locked down till at least January 12th,

My heart again goes out to all service industry professionals and those with small businesses.

But even with all we are going through in Alberta and Canada, I do see an opportunity for some hope.

But I will cover that in my next post.

Take care, stay safe and see you soon!

Your Partner In Lockdown Life

But as I figured they would, the restrictions ramped up as of this last Sunday

'Alberta's Winter Finale AKA Lockdown The Sequel Day 2 : Me and Coffee!

 Hey there...one thing that is an essential in any lockdown is...

COFFEE of course!

You may ask, why am I wearing a Texas T-shirt?

Simple answer is, I have a cousin who lives down there with his family. 

And the global view answer is...

...hey, our countries are neighbors! Aren't we?

Some may feel that the US has taken over our culture.

But I don't know about that.

Didn't we give something back to our neighbors?

The Great Alanis/Celine Takeover of the mid-90s perhaps?

And haven't we left our Exalted Canadian Cultural Ambassador Ryan Reynolds down south to look after things for us?

But back to the coffee.

Yes, Maxwell House sure is "good to the last drop".

Incidentally, that phrase was written in 1915 by Clifford Spiller, a former General Foods Corporation president. The coffee itself originated in 1892.

I call it my "writing fuel", and usually have a couple of cups with my evening meal.

And boy does it help with the evening creativity!

 

Especially when planning and creating the next installment of Lockdown The Sequel!

Your Partner in Lockdown Life

Alberta's Winter Finale AKA Lockdown The Sequel: Day 1

 Many TV shows have a winter finale.

So why not our province?

As of today, it's here. 

Lockdown: The Sequel

So I'm settling in.

Me and my pal Celery Man from my Facebook page.

Thanks to all in Alberta who must work through this lockdown.

Grocery workers and delivery drivers.

Bus, DATS and cab drivers.

Truckers bringing us goods and services

Hospital and care home workers.

I know I appreciate the workers in my care home these days!

Thank you all so much!

I love you all!

And my heart goes out to all the businesses that will struggle.

And possibly cease to exist.

Due to Alberta's lockdown.

I love you all too!

Here's hoping we can significantly tame this virus!

And get back to something approximating the Before Times!

My T-shirt says "Refuse To Lose".

I suppose that's a good motto to adopt.

As far as my attitude and mood toward myself.

And those I may interact with on social media, text, or phone.

As well as those I am required to interact with safely here at home.

Because that is really all I can do at this point.

Take care all of you!

During this very different holiday season.

I am not sure if my thoughts make much sense today.

I just sat down and typed.

But I will be back with something tomorrow.

Every day in fact.

With special stuff on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Years Eve and Day.

But for now, take care, one and all!

I close with some hope, from a man whose thoughts usually did make sense when he sat down and wrote.

None other than Mr. George Harrison.

Your Partner In Lockdown Life (with Celery Man)

My Buddy Don

 

This is my buddy Don.

I had the honour and privilege of  knowing him for over 30 years.

And for all of that time, he  retained the smile pictured above.

His favorite saying? 

"Hello, Sunshine!"

And he truly meant it,

Don was always truly happy to see you.

It didn't matter if you were a good friend of his, or if he knew you slightly.

The smile was always the same.

If you were having a down day, just a smile or hello from Don would improve it instantly.

I know quite a few of my days were brightened and improved just by knowing him.

I  first met Don around 1991 at a meeting of the Cerebral Palsy support group.

He was always a positive and energetic presence at those meetings, as well as the dinner and bowling nights the organization would put on.

Later on, Don and I wound up living in the same assisted living facility, and we would often get together at one another's places to watch movies or listen to music.

And I remember a few Grey Cups and Super Bowls at his place with Pepsi from the building machine, and pizza from 73.

And when I ran movies in the building, Don was the usher and was always happy to look after the lights.

And on those occasions when he and I would go for coffee at either West Edmonton Mall or Westmount Mall, I watched him bring smiles to complete strangers, simply by saying hello.

The same thing happened when we would occasionally go see his favorite oldies bands such as Gerry and the Pacemakers and Herman's Hermits.

And we certainly had fun watching The Fab Fourever, an outstanding Beatles tribute band from Vancouver, in 2014.

We were absolutely blown away by their recreations of the Beatles music and eras, and by the hospitality of the guys, who happily agreed to pose for the above picture after the show.

I used to sometimes joke with Don that I was jealous of him because he saw Beatlemania firsthand.

Paul McCartney once said in an interview that he was proud to be in a band that thought the thoughts and felt the feelings  that led to songs like All You Need Is Love.

And I have to say that I am proud to have known a guy like Don Matheson, who not only really liked that particular song, but lived its ideals for his entire life.

I'll miss you bud.

Thank you for being my friend.

And for helping me see the positive in life when I needed it.

You were a heck of a guy.

Your buddy,

Mike

Joey Moss: An Inspiration

 I never had the opportunity to meet Joey Moss.

But from 1984 on, I sure knew who he was!

He worked in the Oilers dressing room, starting in the same year as the Stanley Cup dynasty.

And Joey kept that position, as well as well as a similar one with the Edmonton Football Team, for over three decades.

And it always seemed to me, even in the mid-80s when I was in my teen years and just starting to figure out how to manage life with challenges, that he never let his own challenges get in the way of doing the work that he loved.

Or enjoying his life  to the absolute fullest.

He had one very good (and perhaps best) friend.

Who just happened to be the best hockey player in the world.

And he had support from his large and loving family.

And Joey's teammates and coworkers from Edmonton's two most storied teams had his back too.

Joey was definitely a part of the Oilers story, and the Football Team's story.

The city of Edmonton's story, really.

All it took, according to reports, was dedicated work that he loved, a hug and a high five, usually shared with teammates, whether after a win or a loss.

Throughout his career, Joey was honoured by both teams.

The NHL honoured him with its "Seventh Man" award.

The Alberta Sports Hall Of Fame celebrated him as well.

The Winnifred Stewart Association, which assisted him in living his life fully despite his Down's Syndrome challenges, named all their Edmonton group homes "Joey's Homes".

How did all this goodwill and good fortune come to Joey?

Simply by being himself.

I can tell you that as a teenager in the mid-80s, there was a lesson for me there.

And that as an almost middle-aged adult now, the lesson is there still.

There is also hope.

For all of us, whatever our challenges.

If we are able to recognize our gifts, and use them.

Rest in peace Joey.

Thank you for being an inspiration.

You did good.

Wherever you may be, I hope you are joyfully belting out our anthem with Mr. Paul Lorieau.

Mike

.

You're At School! But You're At Home!

 

Hello girls!

I heard you started school three days ago!

It's a special kind of school.

Because you are at home!

That means your mom and your dad will be your teachers this year!

You are very lucky, because your mom and your dad are both really smart people!

And your mom and I watched Memere Annie be a very special teacher when we were your age.

So I just know that your mom and your dad will do their very best to teach you two.

I know that Memere Annie would be very proud of you both!

Just like Auntie Shawna and I are!

And I love your smiles!

Because learning is fun when school is at your house, isn't it?

Good luck with this school year Penelope and Mikaela!

We'll all be cheering for you!

Love you so much Penelope and Mikaela!

Uncle Mike

Penelope And The Birthday Unicorn!

 

Happy Birthday Penelope!

Wow! You are already nine!

Time sure goes by fast doesn't it?

But that's OK!

You have many years of adventures to come!

I heard you had some very special guests at your party yesterday!

Of course, everyone that comes to a party is a special guest.

Like the people you invited, and your mom, dad and sister.

And we sure can't forget Auntie Debbie!

But princesses and unicorns are pretty special when they come to a party.

Wow!

Looks like you had lots of fun!

Auntie Shawna  and I are so happy to see that!

Happy Birthday Penelope from Auntie and me!

And may you have many more fun birthdays to come!

Uncle Mike